12 must-read new YA books to cool off with this July

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Brandy Colbert has brought us a number of beloved YA releases, including Little & Lion and Finding Yvonne, but her latest story couldn’t come at a more relevant time. With the 2020 election only a few months away, The Voting Booth tackles the importance of taking part in your democracy — and the truths of voter suppression.

It all begins with Marva Sheridan heading to the polls to vote in her very first election, an exciting time for any young adult, and especially one who strives to make a difference in the world. Marva is fully expecting to take action by casting her vote, but what she isn’t expecting is to witness a boy — Duke Crenshaw — get turned away from the polls. She can’t stand by and watch this injustice unfold, and that’s how their journey (and romance begins). According to the book’s synopsis:

"“When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn’t spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that’s how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva’s missing cat), it’s clear that there’s more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.”"

Anyone looking for a fun romance that tackles topics that are more important than ever should definitely keep The Voting Booth on their radar. Colbert’s newest novel will be available in print, ebook, and audiobook format starting July 7.